Process for copolymerizing conjugated dienes and alpha-olefins

ABSTRACT

Conjugated dienes and olefins, such as butadiene and propylene, are copolymerized by a catalyst system comprising a metal component, TiClnBr4 n or VClmBr5 m, a reducing agent of the formula AlR3 wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group, and an organic sulfoxide such as diphenyl sulfoxide. The use of the organic sulfoxide modifier allows the use of higher and more practical temperatures to obtain desirable molecular weights, yields and microstructure than the prior art related copolymerizations which require much lower and less practical polymerization temperatures to obtain corresponding results.

[ Oct. 21, 1975 PROCESS FOR COPOLYMERIZING CONJUGATED DIENES AND ALPHA-OLEFINS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio 22 Filed: Sept. 26, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 509,516

Jung Wong Kang, Clinton, Ohio [52] US. Cl...... 260/853 R; 260/821; 260/942 M; 260/80 C [51] Int. Cl. C08F 4/44; C08F 236/00 [58] Field of Search 260/942 M, 85.3 R, 82.1, 260/80 C [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,047,646 l2/l97l France 260/942 M OTHER PUBLICATIONS Organic Sulfur Compounds, N. Kharasch, Vol. I,

Pergamon Press, N.Y., 1961.

Primary Examiner-Joseph L. Schofer Assistant ExaminerF. R. Cervi [57] ABSTRACT Conjugated dienes and olefins, such as butadiene and propylene, are copolymerized by a catalyst system comprising a metal component, TiCl,,Br or VCl Br a reducing agent of the formula AIR; wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group, and an organic sulfoxide such as diphenyl sulfoxide. The use of the organic sulfoxide modifier allows the use of higher and more practical temperatures to obtain desirable molecular weights, yields and microstructure than the prior art related copolymerizations which require much lower and less practical polymerization temperatures to obtain corresponding results.

19 Claims, N0 Drawings PROCESS FOR COPOLYMERIZING CONJUGATED DlllENES AND ALPHA-OLEFINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the copolymerization of conjugated dienes, such as 1,3butadiene, with alphaolefins, such as propylene. More specifically this invention involves the copolymerization of conjugated dienes with alpha-olefins in the presence of a novel catalyst composition. I

2. Related Prior Art French Pat. No. 2,047,646 describes the copolymerization of butadiene and propylene in the presence of a metal compound such as TiCl and AIR, reducing agent in which R is hydrocarbon, and a carbonylcontaining compound. While the general discussion of the invention refers to liquid phase polymerization at temperatures in the range oflOC to 50C, the preferred temperature is 40C to 30C which is confirmed by the fact that in patentees 30 working examples a polymerization temperature of 30C is used in 24 of these examples and 40C in four examples. It appears that these low polymerization temperatures are necessary to obtain patentees optimum results in molecular weight, microstructure and other properties in their copolymers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that by use of an organic sulfoxide, such as diphenyl sulfoxide (C H SOC H instead of the carbonyl-containing modifiers used in the prior art, in a catalyst composition using TiCl,,Br 0r VCl,,,Br wherein n has a value of 0 to 4 and m has a value ofO to 5, and an aluminum reducing agent such as aluminum trihydrocarbon, it is possible to conduct the copolymerization of conjugated dienes and alphaolefins at higher and more practical temperatures, without sacrificing the desired properties in the polymer products. In other words with an organic sulfoxide as the modifier in the catalyst composition, it is possible to copolymerize these comonomers at 5C to give copolymers having sufficiently high molecular weights and other desirable properties that with carbonylcontaining compounds and aluminum trihydrocarbon as the reducing agent polymerization temperatures of 30C or lower are necessary to produce similar results in the copolymers. The resulting copolymers are predominantly alternate copolymers with minor amounts of block and random copolymerization occurring, depending on the proportions of diene and olefin used in the comonomer starting mixture.

As stated above the reducing component is A1R wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group of no more than carbon atoms, and preferably there is at least one hydrocarbon group present. Alkyl groups of 1-8 carbon atoms are preferred in these compounds but even larger groups or aromatic or cycloaliphatic groups such as phenyl, tolyl, xylyl, naphthyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, etc., may also be present in place of the alkyl groups in the respective compounds. These compounds include aluminum trihydrocarbons, aluminum trihydride, dihydrocarbon aluminum hydrides and hydrocarbon aluminum dihydrides.

Typical aluminum compounds that may be used in clude, but are not limited to: trimethyl aluminum, triethyl aluminum, tributyl aluminum, tripropyl aluminum, triheptyl aluminum, trioctyl aluminum, triphenyl aluminum. tritolyl aluminum, dimethylphenyl aluminum, tribenzyl aluminum. diethyl benzyl aluminum, tricyclohexyl aluminum, dimethyl cyclohexyl aluminum, dimethyl-cycloheptyl aluminum. dimethyl aluminum hydride, diethyl aluminum hydride, dihexyl aluminum hydride, dipropyl aluminum hydride, diphenyl aluminum hydride, dicyclohexyl aluminum hydride, ethyl aluminum dihydride, butyl aluminum dihydride, amyl aluminum dihydride, octyl aluminum dihydride, phenyl aluminum dihydride, cycloheptyl aluminum dihydride, aluminum trihydride, and the like.

The titanium and vanadium halide components are represented by the formulas TiBr,,Cl and VBr,,,Cl where n has a value from 0 to 4 and m has a value of O to 5. Preferably the titanium or vanadium is completely saturated with chloride. However, various degrees of substitution by bromine also give suitable results. Such compounds include TiCl VCl TiBrCl TiBr CI TiBr Cl, TiBr VBrC1 VBr Cl VBr -,Cl VBr Cl and VBr Organic sulfoxides that may be used as the modifier in the catalyst composition of this invention have the formula R SO-R wherein R and R are hydrocarbon groups of 1-20 carbon atoms, preferably 1-10 carbon atoms. They may be aliphatic, aromatic and cycloaliphatic and may have derivative groups thereon provided such groups are inert and do not interfere with the catalytic function of this compound, such as chlorine or acetoxy substituted on an aromatic ring. Advantageously these compounds are free of ethylenic and acetylenic unsaturation. Typical compounds suitable for this purpose are dimethyl sulfoxide, diethyl sulfoxide, dibutyl sulfoxide, dioctyl sulfoxide, diphenyl sulf oxide, ditolyl sulfoxide, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfoxide, p-chlorodiphenyl sulfoxide, dinaphthyl sulfoxide, bis(nonylphenyl) sulfoxide, dicyclohexyl sulfoxide, dicycloheptyl sulfoxide, etc.

The molar ratio of aluminum to Ti or V in the catalyst composition is advantageously in the range of 1.0 to 4.0 moles per mole of Ti or V compound. The molar ratio of sulfoxide compound to Ti or V is advantageously in the range of 0.7 to 4 moles preferably l2 moles per mole of Ti or V compound.

The catalyst is used in a proportion of 0.1 to 4 millimoles per grams of monomer. ln referring to millimoles of catalyst, this corresponds to the millimoles of the titanium or vanadium compound since the catalyst is regarded or at least calculated as a complex of the titanium or vanadium compound with the other catalyst components.

Polymerization may be conducted at a temperature of -50 to 50C., but preferably at 0-50C. At temperatures of 0 to 50C polymers are produced with yields generally of 5080%, and molecular weights generally no higher than 500,000, preferably in the range of about 100,000 to 200,000. At these temperatures the polymerization rate is reasonably fast and very practical use is made of this catalyst. This is in contrast to prior art processes which require temperatures of 40 to 0C. to obtain practical molecular weights.

The microstructure of the butadiene portion of the copolymer is generally about 30-70% trans-1,4, about 20-60% cis-1,4 and about 310% 1,2. The copolymers have a high degree of alternate distribution of comonomer repeating units although there may also be some random and block copolymer formed depending somewhat on the proportions of diene and olefin used. The copolymers also have a low glass transition temperature 105 to 70C., which is desirable for good tire properties.

Generally the molar ratio of olefin to diene in the copolymer product is lower than the corresponding molar ratio in the starting monomer mixture. Therefore, it is desirable to use a higher molar mixture of olefin to diene in the monomer mix in order to produce the desired molar proportion in the copolymer product.

The polymerization is advantageously effected in the presence of an inert diluent to facilitate handling of the polymer and to give better temperature control. Normally liquid hydrocarbons are preferred for this purpose, such as benzene, toluene, aliphatic hydrocarbons l5 such as n-hexane, n-heptane, cyclohexane, etc. or propane, butane, propylene, ethylene, ethane, etc. with the use of higher pressures. However, where provision is made for external heat dissipation and temperature control, the solvent can be omitted.

The polymerization is advantageously conducted in a pressure vessel to avoid loss of monomer and solvent, particularly if temperatures are to be used at or above the boiling point of either.

Conjugated dienes that may be copolymerized in accordance with this invention include: 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, 2-phenyl-l,3-butadiene, piperylene, etc.

The alpha-olefins that may be copolymerized with the conjugated diene include ethylene, propylene, nbutene-l, isobutylene, n-pentene-l, and other alphaolefins having up to 10 carbon atoms, including arylsubstituted olefins, such as styrene, alphamethylstyrene, vinyl toluene, vinyl naphthalene, etc.

In the comonomer mixture, the propylene or other olefin is used in an amount representing l090%. preferably 10-50% by weight of the total monomers. In the resultant copolymer, the proportion of olefin depends somewhat on the degree ofconversion but in most cases is in the range of 5-90%, preferably l0-85% olefin.

Notable results in copolymer formation are observed after a reaction period of one hour. However it is generally desirable to extend the reaction periodto [0-30 hours to obtain the most efficient yields. Generally, however, while even longer reaction periods may be used they produce little or no greater advantage.

The rubbery copolymer of 1,3-butadiene and olefin produced by the present invention has processing properties and practical physical properties superior to those of rubber products obtained from natural rubber. It can be used for articles such as tire carcases, tire treads, belting, industrial articles sponge products and r ssories. ca acce 55 butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber. butadienemethacrylate rubber and ethylene-propylene rubber in any desired proportion. It is effective for improving the processing properties and practical properties of such rubbery materials. Generally, such a rubber composition should contain at least 20% by weight of the copolymer of the present invention. Below 20%, there is little improvement in the processing properties and the physical properties of the cured rubber products.

The dilute solution viscosity" referred to herein is defined as the inherent viscosity determined at 25C. on 210.4% solution of the polymer in toluene. It is calculated by dividing the natural logarithm of the relative viscosity by the percent concentration of the solution, i.e., it is the inherent viscosity measured at 0.4% concentration. The molecular weights reported herein are determined from these viscosities and are the number average molecular weights.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Most of the copolymerizations described below in the working examples are conducted in 28 oz. beverage bottles. These bottles are over-dried overnight and then capped with crown, three-hole caps and rubber liners. The bottles are cooled and purged with a stream of nitrogen. After cooling. the bottles are charged, by means of a syringe needle inserted through the rubber liner of the cap, with the diene-olefin-diluent blend at 0C and the sulfoxide modifier, metal compound and aluminum compound are charged in that order. The bottles are then placed in a constant temperature bath equipped with a device for agitating the bottles and retained therein for the desired reaction period; The copolymerization is terminated at the appropriate time by the addition ofa methanol-antioxidant solution and the copolymer product is coagulated by pouring the reaction mass into a large volume of methanol containing an antioxidant. The recovered polymer is dried and analyzed by means of infrared spectra.

The invention is illustrated by the following examples which are intended merely for purpose of illustration and are not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention or the manner in which it may be practiced. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, parts and percentages are given by weight.

EXAMPLE I A series of ten copolymerizations are conducted in bottles according to the procedure described above, using a blend containing 10.66% butadiene, 8.25% propylene and 81.09% toluene, (the propylene representing 43.6 wt. or 50 mole of the monomer portion) with [.65 millimoles of TiCl, used per gms of monomer, diisobutyl aluminum hydride in an amount to give an Al/Ti ratio of 3/1, a reaction temperature of 5C, a reaction time of 20 hours, and the sulfoxide is diphenyl sulfoxide with the amount varied as shown rubber. polyi pr n bber, chloroprene rubber, below with the tabulated results in Table I:

TABLE I A B c 1) E Molar Ratio SO/Ti 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.6 Conversion ('70) 30.0 30.3 42.0 50.0 50.0 IR Spectra Cis-l.4 /1 193* 22.9 31.4 26.4 21.13 29.9" 34.4 48.3 42.8 33.2 trans-L4 /1) 41.0 39.6 28.5 31.0 39.8 63.6 59.8 45.2 50.4 61.0

TABLE lContinued The first values include the percent of propylene.

"The second values are based on only the butadiene portion of the copolymer.

'"Thure is approximately three times as much of the copolymer melting 211-84 as :11l03;(s) means a slight amount; and (vs) means very slight amount.

EXAMPLE ll TiC1 molar ratio being 3.0/1 and a reaction time of 21 The procedure of Example I is repeated with hours with the results shown in the following table:

creased amounts of sulfoxide. The results are tabulated below:

TABLE IV TABLE 11 A B C I mM Ti/phgm 1.65 1.65 1.65 A B c D E SO/Ti ratio 0.3/1 0.4/1 0.5/1

Al/Ti ratio 3!] 3/1 3/1 Molar Ratio SO/Ti 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 Cmvcrsio" (74) 3144 1R Spectra (71) 61 0 60.0 62.5 58.2 52.0 cis lv4 (q!) 221 T8 221 r 35.7 I 27.7 37.0 $3; il -g 53 -2 gag trans-1.4 35.8 38.4 34.0 trans-1.4 40.5 38.2 36.3 40.7 39.1 l 2 W) 1- 3 1 63.5 59.1 53.9 62.7 57.6 1

0 (k) Wt. '71 Propylene 38.0 40.1 40.2 Wt. Propylene 36.3 35.4 32.7 35.1 32.2 DSV DSV 1.54 1.81 1.77 1 90 2.04 fig G81 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 T2 1 1 g; T C. -80 -79 -79 8O EXAMPLE 111 The rocedure of Exam 1e 1 is re eated three times P p p 40 EXAMPLE v using the same cond1t1ons and proport10ns except that the SO/Ti molar ratio is maintained at 0.8/1 and the The procedure of Example 1V is repeated twice using ratio of diisobutyl aluminum hydride to TiCl is varied a i-Bu Al/Tic1 molar ratio of 2.75/1 with the results as shown with the results in the following table: shown in the following table:

TABLE 111 A B C D E F G SO/Ti ratio 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 Conversion 3.3 8.3 12.8 49.0 52.0 53.0 62.3 1R Spectra 6154.4 37.2 38.7 38.1 34.8 26.7 27.0 22.0 50.8 52.9 50.7 48.6 38.5 41.0 33.4 trans-1,4 32.3 30.0 33.0 33.7 39.5 35.3 41.0 44.1 41 0 44.0 47.1 56.9 53.7 61.8 1,2 3.8 4 5 4.0 3.1 3.2 3.5 3.3 5.2 6 2 5.3 4.3 4.6 5.3 5.0 Wt. Propylene 26.8 26.8 25.0 28.5 30.6 34.2 33.6 DSV 2.12 2.34 1.92 1.86 1.89 1.79 Gel 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Tg (C) -74 86 -84 82 --81 79 EXAMPLE lV TABLE V 65 The procedure of Example 1 is repeated three times A B using triisobutyl aluminum instead of diisobutyl alumimM Ti/phgm 1'65 num hydrideas the reducing agent with the i--Bu A1/- ratio 0,3 1.0

TABLE V-Continued used. These proportions and the results are shown in the table below:

A B TABLE V111 Al/Ti ratio 2.75/1 2.75/1 5 Conversion UK) 55.7 51.7 IR Spectra A B C D r 7 1 m 5;: mM Ti/phgrn 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 p SO/Ti ratio 0.9/1 1/1 1.2/1 1.4/1 trans-1.4 (/r) 38.8 40.5 All-n m 3 3 3H Conversion 53.0 54.7 41.0 25.5 12(2 34 3.4 1

5.4 5.2 [R Spectra Wt. "/1 Propylene 37.0 34.8 Chi-1.4 28.5 23.0 26.0 34.5 DSV 1.50 1.74 ("/1) Gel ("/1) 0.0 (J 42.2 35.9 37.8 49.5 Tg (9C) 0 30 trans-1.4 34.0 40.6 40.1 28.4

l l 3M 52.9 59.2 56.6 44.0 1.21%) 3.3 3.3 3.7 4.2 4.9 4.9 5.6 6.5 Propylene 34.2 33.1 30.2 32.9 (Wt. "/1) EXAMPLE VI DSV 1.82 1.99 2.12 2.25

- Gel 7!) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 The procedure of Example [Y 16 repeated six times c using a 1-Bu A1/T1C1 molar ratio of 2.5/1 with the re- -102(vs) -105(s) -103 sults shown in the following table: (5:1)

TABLE VI A .B C D E F mM Ti/phgm 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 SO/Ti ratio 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 Al/Ti ratio 2.5/1 2.5/1 2.5/1 2.5/1 2.5/1 2.5/1 Conversion 50.0 54.0 57.0 58.0 55.0 48.3 [R Spectra C1S1,4 ('71) 18.0 20.6 22.7 22.2 22.3 23.4 28.1 31.6 36.6 33.3 34.3 35.0 trans-1.4 ("/6) 42.9 41.5 35.5 41.4 39.6 40.1 67.0 63.7 57.4 62.0 60.9 60.0 1.2 (71-) 3.7 3.1 3.7 3.2 3.1 3.3 4.9 4.8 6.0 4.7 4.8 4.9 Wt. 7 Propylene 36.0 34.8 38.1 33.2 35.0 33.1 DSV 1.32 1.42 1.43 1.62 1.57 1.78 Gel 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Tg (C) -80 81 78 -81 81 -80 106(s) 105(s) -103(vs) EXAMPLE V11 EXAMPLE IX The procedure of Example I is repeated four times using phenyl methyl sulfoxide (C 1-1 SOCH as the modifier in place of diphenyl sulfoxide. The proportions of catalyst components and the results are given in the table below:

TABLE V11 A B C D mM Ti/phgm 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 SO/Ti ratio 0.5/1 0.6/l 0.7/1 0.8/1 Al/Ti ratio 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/] Conversion 36.4 51.0 47.0 54.7 ('71) IR Spectra 5 33.7 33.5 32.4 34.0 trans-1.4 36.0 39.0 36.9 38.1 ('71) 6.5 5.8 6.7 5.9 Propylene 38.7 36.1 38.0 36.5 (Wt. {71) DSV 1.18 1.24 1.49 1.60 Gel 71) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Tg (C) -74 -78 -79 -78 EXAMPLE V111 The procedure of Example V11 is repeated except that larger proportions of phenyl methyl sulfoxide are The procedure of Example 1 is repeated four times using dimethyl sulfoxide (CH SOCH as the modifier in place of diphenyl sulfoxide. The proportions of catalyst components and the results are given in the table EXAMPLE x The procedure of Example 1X is repeated with increasing proportions of the dimethyl sulfoXide modifier. These proportions and the results are shown in the table below:

EXAMPLE X11 The procedure of Example X1 is repeated three times using bis (p-chlorophenyl) sulfoxide as the modifier in place of diphenyl sulfoxide. The proportions and results are shown in the table below:

TABLE X A B C D mM Ti/phgm 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 TABLE SO/Ti ratio 0.9/1 1.0/1 1.2/1 1.4/1 Al/Ti ratio 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 Conversion 59.0 58.5 54.0 45.7 15 A B C IR Spectra cis1,4 23.3 25.0 27.9 46.0 mM /p g 1.66 1. 6 1. 6 7, SO/Ti ratio 0.8/1 0.8/1 0.8/1

33.0 33.7 38.0 61.9 Al/Ti ratio 2.5 2.5 2.5 trans-l,4 40.1 39.0 37.6 24.7 Reaction Time (hrs.) 21 24 24 Polym. Temp. (C) 0-2 12 2'4 62.0 61.5 55.3 32.0 Conversion 46.0 54.0 50.5 1.2 (71) 3.7 3.2 4.5 4.6 1R Spectra 5.0 4.8 6.7 6.1 cis-1,4 ('72) 25.2 36.1 36.0 Propylene 32.9 32.8 30.0 24.7 37.0 53.0 53.2 (Wt. trans-1,4 39.4 28.4 28.3 DSV 1.99 1.87 2.25 2.60 57.7 41.5 41.7 Gel 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 25 1,2 3.6 3.7 3.5 Tg (C) 83 82 -82 -85 5 3 55 5 102(vs) l()5(s) 103 Propylene (Wt. 71) 31.9 36.8 32.2

1111) DSV 2.00 2.07 1.95

G01 (71) 0.0 0.0 0.0 Tg (C) 82 82 8 1()4(s) 104(vs) 104(vs) ML,/212F 43 47 39.5 Wms. Recovery 1.49 2.08 1.40

EXAMPLE X1 A series of copolymerizations using the same monomer blend and catalyst components as in Example 1 are conducted in a one-gallon stainless steel reactor equipped with a temperature-controlling device, a stirrer and sampling exit ports. The product is withdrawn directly into an isopropanol-antioxidant solution and the precipitated polymer is drum dried and analyzed. The conditions for polymerization and the results are given in Table X1.

TABLE X1 A B C D mM Ti/phgm 2.0 1.5 1.66 1.20 SO/Ti ratio 0.8/1 0.8/1 0.8/1 0.8/1 Al/Ti ratio 3.0/1 3.0/1 2.5/1 4.0/1 Reaction Time (hrs) 22 21 24 24 Polym. Temp. (C) 15 15 12 -23 Conversion 61.7 58.0 52.0 53.0 1R Spectra cis-1,4 20.5 20.6 27.8 21.9

31.6 32.6 43.0 33.2 trans-1,4 40.7 38.8 33.0 39.4

Propylene (Wt. '72) 35.1 37.0 35.0 34.1 DSV 1.62 1.79 2.06 2.13 Gel 1%) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Tg (C) 80 82 -75- 104(s) 104(vs) 106(vs) (s) ML,.1212F 25 35 47 47 Wms. Recovery 0.83 1.25 1.47 1.33

EXAMPLE X111 The procedure of Example X1 is repeated twice ex- 40 cept that the catalyst composition was pre-prepared at -25C and added directly to the reactor without aging. The conditions and results are given in the table below:

TABLE XIII EXAMPLE XVIII The procedure of Example 1 is repeated four times A B with satisfactory results using in place of TiCl an "M ,fi/phgm ['66 2'40 5 equ1valent amount respectlvely of: 50/11 ratio 0.11/1 0.8/1 a. TICIZBI'Z Al/Ti ratio 3/1 3/1 TiclaBr Reaction Time (hrs.) 22 22 Polym. Temp. (C) O4.5 04.5 C T1.C]Br3 Conversion ('7!) 44.0 52.0 d. TIBI} IR Spectra 615-13117.) 35.2 37.4 [0 EXAMPLE XIX 50.0 53.3 mum 6, 301 254 The procedure of Example 1 repeated 21 number of 42.8 364 times with satisfactory results using in place of diisobutyl aluminum hydride an equivalent amount respec- Propylene (Wt. 7.) 29.6 30.0 tively of DSV 2.71 3.22 Gel (m (m a. Diethyl aluminum hydrlde Tg (C) -30 72 b. lsobutyl alummum dihydride 19 c. Phenyl aluminum dihydride MLHZIZUF 748 d. Cyclohexyl aluminum dihydride Wms. Recovery 2.00 e. I'ICXyI aluminum dihydride 20 f. Triethyl aluminum EXAMPLE XIV g. Triphenyl aluminum h. Dieth lc clohex 1 aluminum The procedure of Example XIII is repeated f1ve times y o 1. Alummum trihydrlde exccept that the catalyst was pre-prepared at C and an equipmolar mixtrue of diisobutyl aluminum hy- 25 EXAMPLE XX dride and triisobutyl aluminum is used as the reducing The procedure of Example I is repeated a number of component. The conditions and results are given in the times with satisfactory results using in place of the di-. table below; phenyl sulfoxide an equivalent amount respectively of TABLE x1v A B C D E mM Ti/Phgm 4.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 SO/Ti ratio 0.8/1 0.8/1 0.8/1 0.8/1 0.3/1 Al/Ti ratio 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 Reaction 7* 4* 6 6.5 6 Time (hrs.) Polymer. Temp. (C) 23-11 33-(12) 47-(-26) 39-(24) 4l(28) Conversion 61.0 55.3 24.0 42.0 45.0 [R Spectra cis-l,4 25.2 27.6 24.2 18.9 13.3 36.5 40.7 38.4 28.5 23.6 trans-1,4 38.7 35.2 35.5 44.0 40.1 56.2 51.9 56.1 66.4 71.3 1.2 5.0 5.0 3.4 3.3 2.9 7.3 7.4 5.5 5.0 5.1 Propylene (Wt. 31.1 32.2 36.8 33.8 43.6 DSV 1.23 1.53 1.78 2.33 1.62 Gel 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.75 0.0 Tg (C) 83 80 73 75 73 105(vs) 100(vs) -l00(vs) -l01(s) 'Exotherm occurred so that 50% copolymer was produced within first hour. It is apparent that the mixture of trialkyl aluminum and dialkyl aluminum hydride gives a faster reaction than either of the two when used by itself.

EXAMPLE XV The procedure of Example 1 is repeated with the monomer mix comprising butadiene; propylene; toluene proportions of 6:9:85. The SO/Ti/Al proportions are 2:2:6 mM/phgm. similar results are obtained, with the polymer product containing 40% propylene.

EXAMPLE XVI The procedure of Example 1 is repeated a number of times with satisfactory results using in place of the propylene equivalent amounts respectively of nbutene-l, n-pentene-l, n-hexene-l and styrene, and using SO/Ti/Al proportions of 2:2:6 mM/phgm.

EXAMPLE XVII The procedures of Examples 1 and X1 are repeated with satisfactory results using in place of butadiene equivalent amounts of isoprene.

a. Diethyl sulfoxide b. Di tolyl sulfoxide c. Dioctyl sulfoxide d. Dicyclohexyl sulfoxide e. Methyl naphthyl sulfoxide EXAMPLE XXI l. A process for the hydrocarbon solution polymerization of a monomer composition containing 10-90 percent by weight ofa conjugated diene and l-9O percent by weight of an alpha-olefin having 2-8 carbon atoms to produce a copolymer having -90 percent of the alpha-olefin in the resultant copolymer comprising the steps of maintaining said monomer composition at a temperature in the range of 30 to 50C in intimate contact with a catalyst composition consisting essentially of:

a. an aluminum compound of the formula AIR where R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical of l-ZO carbon atoms;

b. a metal halide compound having the formula TiBr,,Cl.,..,, or VBr,,,Cl wherein n has a value of 04 and m has a value of 0-5, and

c. sulfoxide of the formula R,,SOR,, wherein R and R,, are hydrocarbon groups of 1-20 carbon atoms or chloroderivatives of said hydrocarbons in which the chlorine is attached to an aromatic nucleus;

the concentration of said titanium or vanadium halide being 0.1-4 millimoles per 100 grams of said monomer composition, said aluminum compound being present in a proportion of l4 moles per mole oftitanium or vanadium halide, and said sulfoxide being present in a proportion of 0.7-4 moles per mole of titanium or vanadium halide, said polymerization being conducted for a period of at least 1 hour.

2. The process of claim 1 in which said diene is butadiene.

3. The process of claim 2 in which said alpha-olefin is propylene.

4. The process of claim 3 in which the ratio of said aluminum compound is about 23 moles per mole of said halide.

5. The process of claim 4 in which said halide is a titanium halide.

6. The process of claim 4 in which said halide is titanium tetrachloride.

7. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a dialkyl aluminum hydride.

8. The process of claim 7 in which said hydride is diisobutyl aluminum hydride.

9. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a trialkyl aluminum.

10. The process of claim 9 in which said aluminum compound is a triisobutyl aluminum.

11. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is diphenyl sulfoxide.

12. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is dimethyl sulfoxide.

13. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is bis (p-chlorophenyl).

14. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is methyl phenyl sulfoxide.

15. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a mixture of trialkyl aluminum and a dialkyl aluminum compound.

16. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a mixture of triisobutyl aluminum and diisobutyl aluminum hydride.

17. The process of claim 6 in which said temperature is O50C.

18. The process of claim 17 in which said monomer composition is l0-50 percent by weight propylene.

19. The process of claim 18 in which said sulfoxide is used in a proportion of l-2 moles per mole of said halide.

* g;;g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION nt N 5,9 7 Dated October 24 975 Inventor-(,5) Jung: Wona: Kane;

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the first line-of the "Abstract", insert "alpha-" immediately before "olefins" In Column 4, Line 25, "over-dried" should read -.oven-dried--.

In Column 15 Line '5 (Claim 1), "TiBr Cl should read --TiBr Cl gigned and Scaled this twenty-seventh ay Of April 1 9 76 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting ()jfi't ('mmnissinner uj'iuu'nts and Trademarks 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE HYDROCARBON SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION OF A MONOMER COMPOSITION CONTAINING 10-90 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A CONJUGATED DIENE AND 10-90 PRECENT BY WEIGHT OF AN ALPHA-OLEFIN HAVING 2-8 CARBON ATOMS TO PRODUCE A COPOLYMER HAVING 5-90 PERCENT OF THE ALPHA-OLEFIN IN THE RESULTANT COPOLYMER COMPRISING THE STEPS OF MAINTAINING SAID MONOMER COMPOSITION AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF -30* TO TO 50*C IN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH A CATALYST COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF: A. AN ALUMINUM COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA AIR3 WHERE R IS HYDROGEN OR A HYDROCARON RADICAL OF 1-20 CARBON ATOMS: B. A METAL HALIDE COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA TIBRNC14-M OR VBMC15-M WHEREIN N HAS A VALUE OF 0-4 AND M HAS A VALUE OF 0-5, AND C. SULFOXIDE OF THE FORMULA RASORB WHEREIN RA AND RB ARE HYDROCARBON GROUPS OF 1-20 CARBON ATOMS OR CHLORODERIVATIVES OF SAID HYDROCARBONS IN WHICH THE CHLORINE IS ATTACHED TO AN AROMATIC NUCLEUS: THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID TITANIUM OR VANADIUM HALIDE BEING 0.1-4 MILLIMOLES PER 100 GRAMS OF SAID MONOMER COMPOSITION, SAID ALUMINUM COMPOUND BEING PRESENT IN A PROPORTION OF 1-4 MOLES PER MOLE OF TITANIUM OR VANADIUM HALIDE, AND SAID SULFOXIDE BEING PRESENT IN A PROPRTION OF 0.7-4 MOLES PER MOLE OF TITANIUM OR VANADIUM HALIDE, SAID POLYMERIZATION BEING CONDUCTED FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 1 HOUR.
 2. The process of claim 1 in which said diene is butadiene.
 3. The process of claim 2 in which said alpha-olefin is propylene.
 4. The process of claim 3 in which the ratio of said aluminum compound is about 2- 3 moles per mole of said halide.
 5. The process of claim 4 in which said halide is a titanium halide.
 6. The process of claim 4 in which said halide is titanium tetrachloride.
 7. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a dialkyl aluminum hydride.
 8. The process of claim 7 in which said hydride is diisobutyl aluminum hydride.
 9. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a trialkyl aluminum.
 10. The process of claim 9 in which said aluminum compound is a triisobutyl aluminum.
 11. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is diphenyl sulfoxide.
 12. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is dimethyl sulfoxide.
 13. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is bis (p-chlorophenyl).
 14. The process of claim 6 in which said sulfoxide is methyl phenyl sulfoxide.
 15. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a mixture of trialkyl aluminum and a dialkyl aluminum compound.
 16. The process of claim 6 in which said aluminum compound is a mixture of triisobutyl aluminum and diisobutyl aluminum hydride.
 17. The process of claim 6 in which said temperature is 0*-50*C.
 18. The process of claim 17 in which said monomer composition is 10-50 percent by weight propylene.
 19. The process of claim 18 in which said sulfoxide is used in a proportion of 1-2 moles per mole of said halide. 